From rising material costs to job availability and commuting commitments, the new study from Magnet Trade aims to highlight where to be a tradie and how you can thrive based on location.
The study has determined the best cities worldwide for tradespeople to live in by comparing the average wage earned across different trades to the cost of living in each city. They also looked at factors like quality of life, local tax laws, and rainfall, impacting the number of days that tradespeople can work.
The best and worst cities in the UK for tradespeople to live
| Ranking | City | Quality of Life | Monthly Average Wage after cost of living (without rent) | Income Tax | Rainfall Days Across the Year | Total Score (out of 100) |
| 1 | Milton Keynes | 205.04 | £1,756.17 | 45% | 90 | 96.3 |
| 2 | Norwich | 188.91 | £1,800.67 | 45% | 85 | 96.1 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 188.91 | £1,800.67 | 45% | 85 | 96.1 |
| 4 | Northampton | 205.04 | £1,692.75 | 45% | 88 | 95.8 |
| 5 | Reading | 191 | £1,750.67 | 45% | 85 | 95.7 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 216.24 | £1,706.72 | 45% | 99 | 95.2 |
| 7 | Portsmouth | 181.52 | £1,761.07 | 45% | 85 | 94.7 |
| 8 | Cambridge | 192.94 | £1,722.17 | 45% | 92 | 94.0 |
| 9 | Newport | 190.71 | £1,817.82 | 45% | 98 | 94.0 |
| 10 | Slough | 174.74 | £1,750.67 | 45% | 85 | 93.8 |
Milton Keynes named the best city in the UK for tradespeople to live
With a score of 96.3, Milton Keynes ranked as the best city in the UK for tradespeople to live in. The vibrant Buckinghamshire city has a very high quality of life (QoL) of 205.04, which ranks second among all UK cities. On average, Milton Keynes also experiences 90 days of rainfall, which results in less damage and little disturbance to outside construction.
While tradies across England will pay the same national insurance (6%) and maximum personal income tax rate (45%), Milton Keynes can provide a competitive average monthly wage of £1,756.17, exclusive of rent. This means Milton Keynes tradies can expect to earn an average yearly salary of £30,806.00 and with 46% lower rent than nearby London can enjoy a disposable income.
Norwich is the second-best city in the UK for tradespeople
Norwich is recognised as the second-best place for tradespeople to live in the United Kingdom, with an overall score of 96.1. Norwich residents also can enjoy a sustainable quality of life, despite their score being lower than Milton Keynes (188.91). The city also experiences the second-lowest amount of rainfall in the UK, only surpassed by Bournemouth, with an average of 85 days per year.
With a high average yearly wage of £31,340.00, Norwich-based tradies can expect a greater disposable income than the top spot contender Milton Keynes. After the cost of living the average monthly earnings will total £1,800.67, rent prices are also 63.59% lower than in London allowing for comfortable living and business success.
Northampton ranks top five for the best cities to live as a tradie in the UK
Northampton is a historical city located in the East Midlands, as well as its history, the city is known for its shoe and leather industries. With a score of 95.8 out of 100, the city’s tradesperson potential is highlighted.
Northampton had the highest QoL score (205.04) out of the top 5 cities best for tradies to live. The city also has one of the lowest rainfall averages with just 88 days per year, allowing for seamless workdays and high livability.
In terms of living wage, Northampton ranked the lowest in the top 10 for monthly average wage after cost of living (without rent) with a total of £1,692.75. Despite this, the wage remains competitive compared to those in the worst ten cities to be a tradie in the UK and the town’s potential is supported by its high overall score.
These cities ranked the lowest:
Croydon ranked the worst to be a tradesperson in the UK
Croydon received an overall score of 82.9 out of 100, making it the worst city in the UK for tradespeople to live in. Contributing to the low score is the QoL of 117.52, the lowest of all the cities studied. Another factor is the low monthly average income of £1,534.73, although the yearly average wage (£31,498.00) is higher than the top contender, Milton Keynes, the cost of living for a single person (£1,090.10) is much higher.
Two Greater Manchester cities revealed as poor to be a tradie in the UK
Wigan is the second lowest-ranking city in the worst places for tradies in the UK, with a score of 84.8, closely followed by Manchester with a score of 85. Despite ranking low overall, tradies in Greater Manchester can expect more disposable income than those in Croydon. After deducting the cost of living in each city, Wigan has an average monthly income of £1,534.73, while Manchester has an average monthly income of £1,603.82. With Wigan rating 157.17 and Manchester scoring 158.26, the quality of life in Greater Manchester also turns out to be greater than in Croydon.
For the full Magnet Trade study, click here
